John 9:3 NRSV

posted by Laura Jackson -

Mar 13, 2017

He was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. (John 9:3 NRSV)

In our scripture reading Jesus and his disciples are confronted witha man who was born blind. He never saw the face of his mother or father. When the disciples saw the blind man they had a question to ask Jesus. It was the common belief of the day to associate sin with illnesses. If a person committed a sin they believed someillness oraccident would happen to that person. According to the book of Exodus the sins of the parents were transferred to the children. The disciples asked Jesus "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," Jesus told his disciples, instead "he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him."

Jesus spit and made some mud which he rubbed on the blind man's eyes. Jesus told him to go and wash it off in the Pool of Siloam. The blind man made his way through thecrowd and did exactly what Jesus told him to do. When the man washed his face he could see for the first time in his life. Perhaps the first thing he saw was his hands, or the water or the face of Jesus. This man was no longer blind. Now he could see people he had only heard before. He would no longer have to rely on others. In effect, he was given new life. Jesus gave him the gift of sight.

God of all, give me the gift of sight to see you more clearly. In Jesus' name, Amen.